3552 patients who had received SM and KM were tested for hearing acuity by pure-tone audiometry. The form of treatment was daily dose of lgm. of SM or KM twice a week. The criteria as to constituted a hearing loss are: border line group indicated a 20 to 25db loss, grade 1. 30 to 35db, grade 2. 40 to 55db and grade 3. over 60db loss.
The following results were statistically obtained:
(1) The incidence of hearing loss including grade 1, 2 and 3 was 8.9% in 2917 patients who had received only SM. (SM group) 0.27% showed severe heaing loss. (500+1000+2000c/s/3db>30db)
(2) The incidence of hearing loss in 608 patients who had received both SM and KM (SM-KM group) was 23%, among which 1.1% severe hearing loss.
(3) Larger total dosage of SM and KM incresed the incidence of hearing loss.
(4) 20.9% was normal in one side of the ear in SM group, while 15.6% in SM-KM group.
(5) Patients who complained of tinnitus was most frequently accompanied by hearing loss.
(6) The incidence of hearing loss was noted in the oldest group in our study (from 30 to 34 years old) and increasd with the severity of findings of chest X-ray films.
The incidence was slightly higher in the proteinpositive group in urine than the negative group.
(7) Patients who showed severe hearing loss including conversational areas were mostly those who had recieved SM or KM every day, and those who had kidney disease or renal function impairment.

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